In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed. Elder Yu and the formation master, Liu Zihao, returned to the Yang family together.

Arriving at the cliffside restricted grounds of the Yang family, Liu Zihao could not help but feel deeply moved.

In this recent beast tide, countless towns had been breached and entire clans annihilated. For the Yang family to survive such a great calamity was truly no small feat.

"Greetings, Family Head Yang."

Liu Zihao cupped his hands and said, "The beast tide damaged quite a few formations, and I have been busy with repairs around Wangyue City these past weeks, keeping you waiting."

"Ah, Master Liu, you are far too polite. Please, come in quickly."

As Yang Guanfeng spoke, he withdrew a bundle from his robes. "Here are the remaining forty spirit crystals. Please verify the amount. I shall leave the matter of our restricted grounds' protective formation in your hands."

Deploying the defensive array required fifty spirit crystals in total. Elder Yu had previously paid a deposit of ten spirit crystals, so this settled the final payment.

"Hahaha, Family Head Yang is too courteous. We are old acquaintances; there is no need to count."

Liu Zihao smiled and waved his hand, slipping the bundle of spirit crystals into his storage bag.

The formation he came to arrange for the Yang family this time was known as the Pine-Forest Thick-Earth Formation.

It was designed by leveraging the natural terrain of the Yang family's restricted grounds. Though the formation itself was only of mid-stage Qi Gathering quality, it boasted a vast range and exceptional defensive capabilities.

It was large enough to encompass both the main courtyard and the secondary wings of the restricted grounds. Moreover, if controlled by a suitable handler, even an ordinary late-stage Qi Gathering cultivator would find it difficult to break through by sheer force.

As a courtesy to a returning customer, Liu Zihao even reinforced the original Cloud-Mountain Mist Formation before he began.

Spending fifty spirit crystals was a painful drain on their reserves, but with this protective array in place, Yang Guanfeng felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his chest, bringing him true peace of mind.

"Family Head Yang, do you intend to eventually expand the formation to encompass the outer courtyards at the foot of the mountain?" Liu Zihao inquired.

"Naturally, I do. However, our family's foundation is still quite thin at present. We must plan for such matters slowly."

"That is of no consequence. I can draw up a preliminary outline for you first. Your clan can gather the materials gradually, which will make the future deployment much easier."

Liu Zihao recognized the immense growth potential of the Yang family and deliberately sought to foster good relations.

Faced with this show of goodwill, Yang Guanfeng naturally accepted with pleasure.

The Yang family was just beginning its ascent; establishing ties with capable experts would only benefit the younger generation.

It took Liu Zihao three full months to complete the deployment.

Three months later, the Pine-Forest Thick-Earth Formation descended over the restricted grounds like an inverted porcelain bowl, sealing it tight.

Before taking his leave, Liu Zihao handed the completed layout diagrams to Yang Guanfeng. The documents detailed the names of the auxiliary arrays and the specific materials required, allowing the Yang family to begin preparing at their own pace.

During his trip to the market, Elder Yu had also brought back three storage bags.

Though they were merely the lowest grade of spatial items, they were still incredibly precious treasures to the current Yang family.

"The internal space of each bag is roughly equivalent to half of this small room. With these, you will no longer need to carry heavy bundles and packs whenever you travel."

Elder Yu handed the three bags to the children, a warm smile gracing his face as he watched them examine the novel artifacts with wide, curious eyes.

He considered himself a man who had already died once; the Yang family was now his absolute anchor. Watching the younger generation grow and seeing the family gradually prosper was more than enough to satisfy him.

Following that, Elder Yu withdrew a heavy bundle of texts from one of the storage bags.

"These five stacks contain several basic sets of Five Elements technique arts."

He pointed to the remaining books and said, "As for these two, one is titled the Circulatory Qi-Guiding Art, and the other is the Hundred-Bones Body-Tempering Record. Both are cultivation techniques at the Qi Gathering level. One focuses on the circulation of the heavenly cycle, while the other emphasizes tempering the physical body. I have thoroughly reviewed both. Their barriers to entry are low, making them perfectly suited for our mortal kinsmen."

Even if one cultivated these two techniques to their absolute absolute limits, they would only reach the perfection of Qi Gathering. They contained no methods to achieve Condensed Origin, making them vastly inferior to the Nether-Spirit Dao-Seeking Scripture that Yang Lingrui and the others practiced.

By purchasing the three storage bags as a package deal, Elder Yu had used his sharp wits and silver tongue to whittle the price down to just fifty spirit crystals.

Between the formation deployment and the procurement of materials, sixty spirit crystals had been spent, while the basic technique arts and the two cultivation manuals cost another thirty.

The one hundred and sixty spirit crystals they had previously gained from selling the demon beast carcasses were now reduced to a mere twenty.

Looking over the final accounts, the five core members of the Yang family sighed inwardly. Spirit crystals truly vanished like water; they would have to be far more frugal moving forward.

"Ancestor, a letter arrived from Baishi Town today."

Yang Lingrui stepped forward and presented a letter to Yang Guanfeng.

The latter broke the seal and found a personal note from Gao Hui containing only four words: The Zhang family arrives.

"Has the Zhang family finally made their move?" Elder Yu asked.

"Mmh. They have been restless for a long time. After waiting for over three months, whatever patience they possessed must be entirely exhausted."

Yang Guanfeng tucked the letter away and turned his gaze to the boys. "Lingrui, Linghu."

"Your disciples are here!" the two answered in unison, stepping forward.

"Accompany me on a journey. Let us see exactly what capabilities this Zhang family possesses."

"Yes!"

Yang Guanfeng took one of the storage bags and immediately set off with the two youths.

Yang Lingqing watched their receding figures, softly murmuring a prayer for their safe return.

"Hehe, does Lingqing wish to go as well?" Elder Yu asked gently, looking down at her.

Yang Lingqing nodded. "To say I do not wish to go would be a lie. Ever since I began my cultivation, I have never stepped past the family gates. I do wish to go out and see the world."

Hearing her response, Elder Yu felt a twinge of sorrow for the girl.

"Alas... you child, you are simply too sensible. It is truly heartbreaking."

"Ancestor Yu need not feel this way. Lingqing does not feel wronged in the slightest."

Yang Lingqing looked up with a bright smile. "Going out to clash and fight may be exciting, but it is also far too noisy. With my temperament, I would likely find it tedious after a brief look anyway."

"Hahaha, you clever little girl. You make an old man like me seem overly sentimental."

As he spoke, Elder Yu gently patted Yang Lingqing's head with his broad, weathered palm.

"Hehe, Ancestor Yu is still young and spirited!"

Yang Lingqing shared a mischievous smile, then added, "Ancestor Yu, I shall take my leave first."

"Go on."

After bowing respectfully to Elder Yu, Yang Lingqing turned and walked out of the restricted grounds, lightly leaping down the sheer cliffside.

Today was the scheduled day for the Yang family council. Ordinarily, Yang Guanfeng would preside over it, but due to the urgent matter regarding the Zhang family, he could not attend. Thus, the duty temporarily devolved to Yang Lingqing.

Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu had agreed long ago that should the two elders ever meet with misfortune, the stewardship of the Yang family would fall upon Yang Lingqing.

They chose this exact opportunity to let her handle the clan's affairs, marking her first official appearance before the assembled Yang family.

Within the family council hall.

By this time, the leaders of each family branch and the primary inner members had arrived, with Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei already seated at the front.

However, the atmosphere today carried a distinct edge of anticipation.

"I just heard from the two masters that today's council will be presided over by an Immortal Master."

"Indeed, I heard the same. There was quite a stir upon the mountain cliff a few days ago. Word is that another Immortal Master within our clan has achieved success!"

As their quiet whispers rippled through the room, several others joined the hushed discussion.

"Immortal Master Lingrui achieved success early on and displayed divine might during the beast tide. As for this newly ascended expert, I wonder if it is Immortal Master Linghu or Immortal Master Lingqing."

"Who is to say both have not succeeded?"

"If that is the case, it is a monumental blessing for our clan!"

"Indeed, indeed! A magnificent occasion!"

Everyone was well aware that the three children had been taken into the restricted grounds to train.

However, mortals remained ignorant of the intricate nuances of cultivation. Because the other two children had never publicly revealed their technique arts, the clan members could only speculate.

While the crowd continued to murmur, a sudden, refreshing breeze swept through the grand hall.

A sense of profound mental clarity washed over everyone present. When they raised their eyes once more, they discovered a young girl clad in a pristine white dharma robe already seated upon the central high throne.

"Descendants of the Yang family pay homage to the Immortal Master!"

With a collective rustle of robes, led by Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei, every member of the Yang family knelt in unison.

Faced with such a grand display of reverence, Yang Lingqing showed not a shred of anxiety or hesitation.

She scanned the assembly with a practiced, familiar gaze, then gracefully waved her sleeve.

"Rise. Begin the council."